Language of Materials:
English
Chinese
Spanish;Castilian
Portuguese
German

Repository:
Urban Archives

Abstract: The Carl S. Dentzel Collection documents
the work and influences of Carl S. Dentzel throughout his lifetime as a journalist and a
community activist, including the renaming of the city of Northridge, the coverage of
the conflicts abroad between the U.S., Central America, South America, and Europe, and
his work with organizations including the Museum Association, and the Municipal Arts. It
includes correspondence, pamphlets, annual reports, budgets, minutes, newsletters,
reports, maps and photographs.

Biographical Information:

Carl Schaefer Dentzel was born in 1913, the son of Edward P. Dentzel, a councilman and
mayor of Beverly Hills, and Mrs. Emma P. Dentzel, co-founder of the park system for
Beverly Hills. He attended Beverly Hills High School and continued his education
studying abroad in Berlin, Munich and Mexico City before beginning a career as a
journalist.

Between 1933 and 1936, Dentzel was a syndicate news correspondent in Europe and Asia. He
traveled extensively before returning to Southern California in 1940. He settled in the
Northwest Region of the San Fernando Valley, known at the time as Zelzah and North Los
Angeles (later renamed “Northridge”), where he became a determined leader in the
cultural affairs of his community.

He served as editor and writer of the
Northridge Herald and
The Federalist, and as president of the Chamber of
Commerce. During WWII he acted as an official of the Office of Inter-American Affairs,
which led to his post as executive secretary of the Southern California Council of
Inter-American Affairs during the late 1940s. Dentzel had a lifelong interest in the
Southwest and a commitment to preserving its unique Native American, Spanish and Mexican
Heritage. He wrote and spoke often on the importance of American cooperation with Latin
America during their periods of civil unrest, and served as Director of the Southwest
Museum for 25 years, building up a repository of history and archaeology within the
museum.

Dentzel was dedicated to preserving the landmarks of Los Angeles, and played a major
role in founding the city's Cultural Heritage Board in 1962. His relationship with the
Board continued beyond its founding and Carl served as both president and
vice-president. He also was a member of the “El Pueblo de Los Angeles Movement,” which
helped preserve historic landmarks of Los Angeles, particularly in the downtown
area.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Corporate Name:

British Broadcasting
Corporation

El Pueblo de Los Angeles
Historical Monument (Los Angeles, Calif.)

League of Women Voters of
California

Los Angeles Museum of
History, Science, and Art

Occidental
College

Genre/Form of Material:

Maps

Paper records

Photographic material

Geographic Name:

Central America

Northridge (Los Angeles,
Calif.)

San Fernando Valley
(Calif.)

South America

Administrative Information

Processing Information:

Sara Pacheco, 2012

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s)
of this collection has not been transferred to California State University,
Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or
reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of
the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

The Carl S. Dentzel Collection documents the work and influence of Carl S. Dentzel
throughout his lifetime as a journalist and a community activist, including the renaming
of the city of Northridge, the coverage of the conflicts abroad between the U.S.,
Central America, South America, and Europe, and his work with organizations including
the Museum Association and the Municipal Arts. It includes correspondence, pamphlets,
annual reports, budgets, minutes, newsletters, reports, maps and photographs. The
collection consists of six major series: International Affairs(1939-1943), Local Affairs
(1932-1967), Museum Association (1941-1996), Municipal Art (1940-1975), Photographs
(1954-1975), and Oversize Material (1932-1975).

Series I, International Affairs, consists of materials that document Dentzel's work as a
correspondent with a particular focus on international issues and geopolitics. The
series includes newsletters, correspondence, and flyers, as well as other materials
regarding the political, economic, and cultural relationships between the United States
and other nations and communities. Also included are materials regarding civil issues
within foreign nations, especially those in Central America, South America, and Asia.
The series is filed alphabetically.

Series II, Local Affairs, consists of materials that document Dentzel's work and
involvement in local politics and community work. Included are materials related to his
work with several local colleges and universities, as well as his involvement with the
Chamber of Commerce and other local institutions. The series includes correspondence,
minutes, notes, flyers, and other materials. The series is filed alphabetically.

Series III, Museum Association, consists of materials that document Dentzel's work with
the Museum Association, an organization specifically concerned with museum and exhibit
work, as well as providing support for museums in Los Angeles County. The series
includes correspondence, minutes, notes, flyers and other documentation relating to
Board meetings and activities within the Museum Association, and it is filed
alphabetically.

Series IV, Municipal Art, consists of materials that document Dentzel's work within the
Los Angeles and Northridge communities, including the Cultural Heritage Board, Heritage
Square, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and his efforts to improve and preserve Los Angeles's
cultural history. This series includes correspondence, flyers, articles, minutes, and
other documentation pertaining to his work on various boards, projects dedicated to the
restoration and preservation of city landmarks, and the cultural history of Los Angeles
County as a whole. This series has been further divided into three subseries: General
(1943-1969), Cultural Heritage Board (1958-1970), and El Pueblo de Los Angeles
(1947-1975). The series is filed alphabetically.

Series V, Photographs, consists of photographs documenting Dentzel's participation in
numerous events with the League of Women Voters, with whom he maintained a partnership
during his years of community outreach and involvement. Also included is a folder of
photographs of various people and events. The series is filed alphabetically.

Series VI, Oversize Material, consists of oversized materials from Series I through
Series V. It includes maps, newspapers, posters and various other materials. The series
is filed alphabetically.